Where The Story Turns
Florentino Pérez has declared he is prepared to make the biggest transfer in Real Madrid's history, committing at least €150 million for what he called "a midfielder or a forward" from a Champions League club.
The presidential favorite appeared on Spanish TV show Horizonte and laid out his ambitious plan. "On Tuesday, I'm going to make an offer to an important Champions League club for a great player that would be the largest amount of money that Real Madrid have paid for a transfer in all of their history. Yes, €150 million at the very least," Pérez said.
The record does not need much decoration; it already does the talking.
The bid would easily surpass the fees paid for Eden Hazard and Jude Bellingham, the club's two most expensive signings to date.
The Stakes In Plain Sight
Pérez gave several hints about the player's identity. Michael Olise and Jérémy Doku were quickly ruled out. The player does not play in the Premier League. It is not Erling Haaland. The obvious candidates fitting this description are Paris Saint-Germain midfielders João Neves and Vitinha, both Portugal internationals.
"It's not Haaland," Pérez said, taking a subtle shot at fellow presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, whose claim that Haaland was joining Real Madrid was denied by the player's agent and Manchester City. "We wouldn't do what this man did, speaking with Haaland first and then Haaland's father and his agent come out to say it's a lie."
Pérez confirmed three arrivals he had no trouble revealing. Jose Mourinho will return for a second stint as manager, with Benfica confirming Real Madrid will trigger the Special One's €15 million release clause. "He's a manager we know and he taught us enormous competitiveness," Pérez said. "After he left, we won six Champions Leagues, a fruit of that competitiveness that he gave us."
The Question Left Open
He also confirmed Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries as the club's first two reinforcements ahead of the 2026–27 season, which explains why his planned record signing is not a defender.
The full identity of the record-signing target will become clearer next Tuesday when Pérez said the bid would be submitted. Until then, Los Blancos supporters have their speculation, and the rest of Europe has been put on notice.